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Kind of cast iron, not cookware, but interesting....

This big old rooster was purchased online over a year ago. The head, body and thighs are cast iron. The comb, wattle and legs are wrought iron and the wings and tail are sheet metal. A very, very similar one was appraised on an Antique Roadshow from Hot Springs, AR in 2002 and shown again in 2006 during a Roadshow Remembers broadcast. It can be seen here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/archive/200203A07.html That one was said to be a trade sign from the early 20th century.
A few others of similar appearance and construction have shown up on eBay. One was made into a lamp.
I have been searching for more information about these roosters without success. The feet and legs are drilled and tapped from the bottom up for mounting bolts. The thread is 12-24, an American thread. Since the cast parts were made in a mold and the sheet metal parts appear to have been formed in a die, some production is indicated, rather than one off manufacture. The Roadshow rooster was purchased on the west coast, mine came from the east coast.
Any information about these roosters, their origins or use is greatly appreciated, as is any discussion.

Re: Kind of cast iron, not cookware, but interesting....

Thank you, Mark. I was the only bidder on it, which surprised me, as I figured others would have recognized it from the Roadshow, even if it aired 6 years before the auction. I am not too far from the appraiser who did that segment, but have never been able to have him look at mine.

Re: Kind of cast iron, not cookware, but interesting....

Jeremy. When I first obtained the rooster, the legs and underparts had rust and corrosion. I think it was standing, perhaps partly buried, in soil for part of its life. I cleaned off the rust with a soft brush and hot, soapy water, then dried thoroughly using a heat gun to warm the metal and drive off the moisture. The entire bird was then given a light coat of bee's wax. I warmed the wax on a hot plate and used a wash cloth to apply it. The heat gun was used to warm the rooster and thin the wax to a polish coat on the metal. An old toothbrush was used to get the wax in tight places. The rooster is hollow. The interior was scrubbed with a long-handled brush and compressed air was used to blow out the debris inside. Some walnut oil was then poured in and sloshed around to coat the interior. The excess was drained out. This treatment has protected the rooster from further rust and corrosion despite being displayed outside for part of the year.